Women’s EuroHockey U21 Championship preview – Netherlands
Appearances: 21
Best performances: 1st (1978, 1981, 1984, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2024)
As the EuroHockey U21 Championship’s most decorated team and the reigning world champions, the Netherlands arrive in Valencia as ones of the teams to beat.
Kai De Jager’s squad features 12 members of the team that defeated Argentina 2-1 in the 2025 U21 World Cup final in Chile. Goalkeepers Phileine Hazen and Iza Osborne return alongside Kaatje Walhof, Brechtje van Santbrink, Imke Verstraeten, Katerina Langedijk, Lieve Wijckmans, Fleur Wolfert, Iris de Kemp, Maud van den Heuvel, Veere ter Horst and Babs Reijnen.
That experienced core forms the backbone of a squad already accustomed to winning major tournaments. Captain Imke Verstraeten leads the team into the competition and is the most experienced player in the squad with 17 U21 appearances.
The reigning world champions have also been strengthened by the arrival of Merle Blaffert, Lotte Ruts and Anouk Slotema. The trio helped the Netherlands secure the U18 European title in Lille in 2025 with Ruts named player of the tournament.
Club success is another common theme throughout the squad. Maud van den Heuvel, Isa van Heerde and Lotte Ruts helped SCHC lift the 2026 Euro Hockey League title, while Babs Reijnen and Lieve Wijckmans were part of the Den Bosch side that claimed the EHL crown in 2025.
** 24 EuroHockey U21 Championship matches from Pitch 1 in Valencia will be broadcast live on www.eurohockeytv.org with an €8.99 event pass (Click the graphic for more information)
A number are also making significant transfers this summer; Hazen will move from Bloemendaal to SCHC after the tournament while fellow goalkeeper Iza Osborne is set to join HDM from Huizen; Brechtje van Santbrink will make the switch from Rotterdam to Den Bosch.
One of the most intriguing stories within the squad belongs to van Heerde. The SCHC player comes from one of the most distinguished hockey families in the Netherlands.
Her mother, Hanneke Smabers, won 127 caps for the Dutch national team, while her aunt, Minke Smabers, remains the Netherlands’ all-time appearance record holder with 312 international caps. Her grandmother, Marjolijn Bakker, also represented the national team while her father Jordan played in the Dutch youth system.
The Netherlands begin their European Championship campaign against hosts Spain on July 26 before facing England the following day. After a rest day, they conclude the group stage against Scotland.
They start their campaign for a 12th European title with a classic encounter against hosts Spain, a repeat of 2024’s epic final which ended 5-3 in the Netherlands’ favour thanks to two goals in the last five minutes.
But the Spanish got the best of their rivals the last time they met in Valencia in the 2019 final, the hosts winning a shoot-out that time.
| # | Name | Caps | Goals | Goals |
| 1 | Phileine Hazen (GK) | 6 | 0 | HC Bloemendaal |
| 3 | Anouk Slotema | 0 | 0 | Pinoké |
| 5 | Kaatje Walhof | 11 | 2 | HDM |
| 6 | Brechtje van Santbrink | 6 | 0 | HC Rotterdam |
| 7 | Maud van den Heuvel | 6 | 3 | SCHC |
| 10 | Dymph Luttge | 0 | 0 | Hurley |
| 11 | Imke Verstraeten (C) | 17 | 8 | AH&BC Amsterdam |
| 13 | Iza Osborne (GK) | 3 | 0 | Huizen |
| 14 | Merle Blaffert | 0 | 0 | AH&BC Amsterdam |
| 15 | Katerina Langedijk | 2 | 1 | AH&BC Amsterdam |
| 16 | Babs Reijnen | 6 | 0 | Den Bosch |
| 17 | Fleur Wolfert | 6 | 0 | SV Kampong |
| 18 | Iris de Kemp | 11 | 10 | SV Kampong |
| 19 | Lieve Wijckmans | 3 | 0 | Den Bosch |
| 20 | Isa van Heerde | 0 | 0 | SCHC |
| 22 | Veere ter Horst | 6 | 0 | SV Kampong |
| 26 | Lotte Ruts | 0 | 0 | SCHC |
| 27 | Juul Sauer | 0 | 0 | Pinoké |
| Ireen van den Assem | Team Manager | |||
| Kai de Jager | Head Coach | |||
| Bas Bogaard | Assistant Coach | |||
| Michelle van der Pols | Medical Doctor | |||
| Sander Schouwstra | Physiotherapist | |||
| Bodi Fok | Video Technician | |||
